INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Fire fighters meet the criteria of being labeled heroes, not many professions meet

such criteria. Heroes are people noted for their bravery and nobility of purpose,

especially those who risk their limbs and lives for the safety of others including their

property, and even their pets. Whenever there are disasters such as natural or

manmade fires, calamities, accidents, terror attacks, chemical spill, they are there to

help. They enter buildings where people are running away from to rescue trapped

victims. Aside from firefighting, Firefighters has a very wide range of job description,

from paramedics, lecturers, fire safety inspectors, fire safety investigators, and

rescuers(water,jungle,structure,vehicle). They spend countless hours away from their

family, to serve the citizens of the community they are assigned in. In our country, not

many understand their job and think that firefighting can be done by anyone. Very few

understand how physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding the job is. Sometimes

during emergency response, they were cursed at, laughed at, and even hurt. In Region

XI, that is a very common scenario, that is why it is imperative to conduct this research

to understand the fire fighters better, which in turn improve the awareness and

cooperation of the community towards a fire safe nation.

(Fortunado,Kilbom,Zimbrado,2016,1979,2011)

A study on work related stress conducted on Eastern Michigan University stated

its effects on the job performance of the firefighters. Firefighters see the good, the bad,
and the ugliest situations. During disasters where everything is destroyed, they witness

the aftermath and it is up to them to do something about it. They watch children die,

family grieve, and people cry. They are present during the darkest hours of the country.

They are cursed at, vomited and bled on, yet people seldom even ask for their names.

Sometimes, a bad day at work means they almost did not make it home. A research on

Naval Post Graduate School Monterey, California identified that post-traumatic stress

disorder has become more prominent in the fire service and seems to be associated

with the rising number of suicide among firefighters over the last 10

years.(Belgium,Heitman,1999,2016)

I have not come across a study that specifically discuss the lives of the Bureau of

Fire Protection firefighters and the issues they face in Davao del Norte and some

stations in Davao City. Furthermore , this study will provide relevant concepts that would

possibly create awareness in the field of public service of firefighters in the academic

community.
Purpose of the study

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the challenges,

coping up, and insights of the Bureau of Fire Protection Professional Firefighters of

Davao del Norte and some stations in Davao City and identify the issues they face on

the workplace that may aid in crafting policies. It is also aimed to understand the nature

of their work deeper, enabling the community to appreciate the sacrifices they make,

and create new knowledge based on the shared information that may be used to reduce

the risk for the safety of the firefighters.

At this stage in the research, the firefighters around Davao del Norte and Davao

City face continuous challenges and phenomenon that actually exist in the field of

public service. The challenges they encounter that puts them in great risks on a daily

basis of saving lives and property, may create a common knowledge through their

communication allowing them to cope up with different themes. Themes that they will

socially elaborate in the conversations.

This phenomenological study will add to the growing body of knowledge about

the role of the firefighters in the public service and investigate the issues they face. It

also aims to capture the unheard voices of the firefighters serving the community, and

how they cope up with the common problems they face.

This study also visualizes documenting the different experiences of seven

firefighters in in-depth interview and seven firefighters in focus group discussion both

the positive and negative one from their own workplaces, in the areas of Davao del

Norte and some stations in Davao City. Moreover, the intent of this study is to seek,
listen, and understand the unheard stories of the participants as they willingly share

their experiences during the interview. In addition, this study aims to gain additional

knowledge in the field of research concerning firefighters in line of duty.

Research Questions

The research answered the three fundamental and interrelated questions. Each

of which was subdivided into more specific questions to guide the data collection

process analysis. Therefore important questions that were tacked are as follows:

1. What are the experiences of the Firefighters?

2.How did the Firefighters cope up with the challenges during response and in

the workplace?

3.What are the insights of the Firefighters?

Significance of the Study

I am confident that this phenomenological study would add to the importance and

significance on understanding the role of firefighters that will lead into a fire safe nation.

It is through this study that I was able to obtain information on their hardships, sacrifice,

emotions, achievements, dedication, and commitment, and identify the issues they face

on performing their mandates and how they cope up with the unfavorable experiences.

Moreover, this knowledge would be helpful in attaining the goal of Department of

the Interior and Local Government and Bureau of Fire Protection's goals in delivering

excellent public service. Thus, this study is also intended to identify what policies needs

to be levied and actions needed to be taken in order to build a fire safe nation

considering the well being of the Firefighters. Moreover, To the Career Professional

Firefighters of Bureau of Fire Protection in general, that they may find even better

aspects to enable them to deliver excellent public service even under unfavorable

circumstances based on the new knowledge this study provides. This study would also

benefit and educate the public community, to broaden their knowledge on what

firefighters do, how they live, and improve their individual disaster awareness. Lastly, to

the future researchers, that they may broaden the horizon of this study further.
Definition of Terms

Fireproof - To be able to withstand great fire or high temperature. In the title it indicated

the unwavering dedication to service of the firefighters.

Unsung Heroes - In this study, it implicates the firefighters who risk their lives for the

public , whom very seldom even ask for their names.

Bureau of Fire Protection - The department of the country mandated to prevent and

suppress destructive fire, investigate its causes, provide emergency medical

and rescue services, and enforce fire related laws.

Personal Protective Equipment - Pertains to the equipment worn by the firefighters to

protect themselves from hazards, such as firefighting gear, hazardous material

gear, rescue or paramedic gear, and Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.

Fire Tetrahedron - Term used to describe elements of fire such as oxygen, fuel, and

heat.

FSIC - Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, issued to building owners to complete

business permit or occupational permit processing.

Fire Auxiliary - Volunteer Firefighters, mostly LGU paid or under job order.

Incident Commander - Pertains to the person leading command in an operation.

Limitations and Delimitations

This phenomenological study is delimited and aimed only at exploring the

experiences of career professional firefighters, their coping strategies, and insights they

can share to their peers and to the academe in general. I selected seven Firefighter-

participants and seven Firefighter informants stationed in the province of Davao del

Norte of Davao region, and Davao City, Philippines. Moreover, this qualitative research

inquiry was conducted from December 2016 to October 2017.

However, I acknowledge the weaknesses which may not allow this research to

achieve the expected generalizability of this study. Due to the small sample who

participated in the study, results may not be generalized and cannot adequately support

claims of having achieved valid conclusions. In addition, I cannot guarantee the perfect

recollection of all the experiences of the participants due to the fact that the real stories

shared are past events and are subject for human error in terms of memory.
Organization of the Study

Chapter 1. This presents the overview of this study on the lives of career

professional firefighters. It presents objective, importance and significance of this study.

It is here where simple questions on its origin was answered and will be the basis for a

more elaborate discussion in the outcome of the qualitative research.

Chapter 2. It discussed the varied studies conducted all over the world in relation

to the lives of the firefighters.

Chapter 3. This deals with the design of the study, the role of the researcher and

the participants involved. Data Collection and analysis is included. Trustworthiness and

Credibility of the study is explained together with its ethical consideration.

Chapter 4. It discussed the results of the study based from research questions

conducted to the participants, which would shed light on reasons underlying the

phenomenological aspects of views. These are the views gathered from the participants

involved.

Chapter 5. It shows the findings, implications, concluding remarks, and

recommendations for further study.